The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-25
'Mr. Long is TO pay off his mortgage

After rev moments more Harry mount
ed his horse and started up the road toward
his fathers farm, and his betrothed went
into the house.
In the mean while, Tom Trudge. the
tramp was slowly vending his way along
the wooded road, keeping a sharp lookout
about him for comfortable place where
he could pass the night. The sun had
gone down before he came To the great
bridge which spanned Sherry Creek; and
by the time he had reached the dark cut
that ran between the hills on the other
side il was quite dark.
Hes goin to come this way" the tramp
suddenly heard somebody say.
He stopped and listened. There came
sounds of human voices at no great dis
lance away. Habitually cautious, the
tramp crept forward until he was within
few feet of where the conversation was
going ON.
He saw three dark forms standing under
the shadow of projecting rock close to the
roadside, and there Tom Trudge lay down
among some bushes to listen.
It'll all be right, one voice said.
Hes got il surep
"Know it.
"How much?"
Good big haul"
"Well, now. how's this thing to be COW
tred up. We've got to lay it on some one."
silence ensued, and then one of the
men spoke up.
Il tell We what we can do. The coun-
try's full of tramps, and we'll lay it on
them"
"Yes, hatchin' more deviltry off on us, T"
growled the tramp, as he lay crouching
like beast of prey in the thicket. "All the
sin o the world is packed off on ter us.
i
it all packed off onto u.s."
He did not speak loud enough to be
heard by the group in consultation.
Its about time, said one.
"D'ye think it's all right?"
"Of course it is"
Mind YOU, said another more cautious
speaker, there's not to be any one hurt.
l wouldn't for the world have drop of
blood spilled.
otto, yer gittin' squeamish!"
Now, you know when l mentioned this
thing, Bill, that that was the understand
ing-no one was TO be hurt. l occupy O
respectable position in this community,
and l can not afford to do anything that
would compel me to leave. You and Net
ties will neither be recognized by him.
You can do the work, bring the swag to
me, and we will go. You have the masks
on your faces?"
"les"
"Now, don't 90 to making any blunders.
If my home wasn't about to be sold from
over my head, wouldn't think of such a
thing; but / can't see my children"
whist, there comes some one!"
Its Lorseman, too"
cts hei'
Get ready now, and be careful-remem-
Der " hat said 10 you."
wonder what Their goin' ter do?" the
tramp asked himself.
The sound of horses feet could now be
distinctly heard, and the concealed tramp
from his position became conscious that
two of the ambushed men, for some pur-
pose, had crept to the roadside, where
they were crouching like wild animals in
ambush.
I'D help that ar Teller what's goin ter
run inter trouble" thought the tramp, shut
then I'd never be thanked fur it, an maybe
git six months in Jail. Guess I'll jest let
EN- fight it out"
"Stopl" called voice in the darkness.
The horse came to a halt, snorted in
terror and started back. There was the
sound of a scuflle. Some one had seized
the horse by the rein.
LET gol"
"Git down."
"Take that"
"Bangp went a pistol, the flash from the
shot showed three or four objects engaged
in struggle. A horse was rearing and
plunging, while two dark forms were trying
to drag the rider from the saddle.
Another shot was fired by the brave
horseman, who was determined to defend
himself and property against the foot
pads. There was cry of pain and an
oath.
EFF that's what We want we'll give ye
enough"
Two or three quick blows followed, a
sharp cry. gushing sob, and the man fell
to the ground. He lay very quiet, and the
tramp, through the darkness, could only
see two dark forms bending over him.
When they rose one of them carried a
heavy wallet, and the horseman still lay
upon the ground. The horse had broken
away, and, snorting with terror, ran down
the road.
Heres the swag, Otto," said one of
them, handing the large wallet to the third
man, who had remained concealed.
"But did you hurt him?"
1--WE had to-"
Great Leayenl you didn't"
Eyes, we did, Otto, he's dead; it was his
life or ours. and Bill done it, though we re
all guilty alike.
"Bill, Bill" almost screamed the man
called Otto, why, in Gods name, did you
do it, when told you not to?"
Quit; stop a shakin' me" said Bill. "He
shot me in the shoulder, and 1 knitted
him.
"Oh what shall we do?" groaned Otto.
LET us run home at once before we are
found at this Internal spot"
I've dropped the knife"
WAS it your own-may be it will be
recognized?"
"No; it's one / found yesterday"
Then let the owner of it prove himself
innocent. For heavens sake let us CO."
The three men hurried away, and the
tramp, who was now interested in the
tragedy, crept from his place of conceal
ment, and for a moment gazed on the
CHASTITY body, which lay stark and cold on
the ground, the smooth shaved face of the
murdered man gazing up into the dark
sky, and then followed carefully after the
retreating footpads.
Long Olivia and her mother awaited the
return of the husband and father. At mid
night he had not come, and, unable longer
to remain in ignorance of the cause of his
strange absence, they reused the hired man
and sent him out 10 see If he could learn
what was OBTAINING Mr.. Shortrdge.
He went. ond-reader. let US draw veil
over the scene of horror that followed.